Electrical controller for electric vehicles.



Nro. 818,768.. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. 'y `K. KNUDSEN.

ELECTRICAL CCNTRCLLBR PCRLLECTRIC VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED xmms, 1902. M 2 SHEETS-#HEBT 1.

Toba/ZZ i-uhom'it may concern:

' citizen of the United wherein all KARSTEN KNUDSEN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.l

ELsoTRiCALoouTFioLLt-:R Fon ELECTRIC; vE'HiCLEs.

, Nasiaves.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lratented April 24, 1.906,

yApplication filed January 13.1902. Serial No. 89,629.

. Be it known that 1 KARs'rEN KNUDsnN, a

States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Controllers for Electric Vehicles, of which the -following isa -lull, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying draw- I ings, forming a-part ofthis specific-ation.

This invention relates to improvements in electric controllers, andk has for its objects,

generally speaking, the provision of means whereby with comparatively few 'and simple y parts a comparatively large number of variations of speed of the motor may be obtained, danger from accident is guarded against, and whereby a more compact, eiicient, economical, and durable device than A y heretofore known is obtained.

The invention relates more particularly to a controller in which the contact-segments snap from one contact position to the next ini dependently of 'the motion of the operating- .handle i- To thes'e ends and such others as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the 1 f novel yparts and the combinations ot parts i, hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, iii which the saine reference characters designate like arts throughout the several views, Figure l is aside elevation of my invention, the supporting-plates being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with a portion of the up er plateremoved.` Fig. 3 is a longitudina section through the controlling-driiiii and associated parts. Fig, 4 is a detail plan view of the drum-operating mechanism, together with the cam andcopcrating lover ltor the i Fig. vvis a similar reversing mechanism.

f view of the drum-catch and its operatingl cam. Fig. 6 is a detail view oll the reversinglatter through i ter are brought into position.

the medium of lugs S and 9,

formed on the upper and lower spectively. c

ANear the forward end of the plates a sleeve l() is supported in the bearing 11 at its lower 'end and'passingthrough suitable supporting means, to be hereinafter described, at its upper end and is surrounded centrally by means of an insulating core or sleeve 12,1ipon which the controller-segments 13, having the contact-iingers 1 4, are mounted, suitable insulating-disks, such as 15, being placed between the several segments and outside ofthe outer segments. vA suitable washer 16 is provided .at the lower end. and is adapted to be pressed against the segments by means of a nut 17, threaded upon the sleeve 10. The segments and insulating-blocks are thus pressed against a drum 18, which'has a bearing against the shoulder 19, formed on the sleeve 10'. The segments, of which there are only four,

the insulating-disk, together with drum 19, are all thus securely fastened together.

Suitable contact-fingers Z0 are secured to spriiigs'21, which are mounted upon the cpposite edges ol" the insulating-plate 6,` secured to the lugs 8 and 9 of the upper and lower plates. These contact-fingers are diametiically opposite each other andl are adapted to suitably engage the contact-fingers 1 4 of the controller-seginents 13 when the lat- Suitable binding-posts -illl connect with these springs, the oiiductors which connect therewith being brought in through apertures in the plate. i

The sleeve 10 has a bearing at its upper end in a second sleeve third sleeve 23, which is secured in an afperture in the top plate '2, a pin 24, Fig. 1, being provided to secure said third sleeve 23 from rotation. The sleeve flange into which the pin which the notches 25 are formed.

24 extends and in Upon the periphery ol the druiii 1 8 a p awl 26 is-mounted,

plates, re-

and

22, which is mountedin ai 23 is provided with a switch cam and lever, and Fig. 7 is a diagram cured-thereto by means of screws 7 7 and the, l i

said pawl or arm having a catch 27 adapted. roo to engage in the notches 25, formed inthe, plate or flange of the sleeve 23. A spring 28 is also secured to the drum 18 and presses againstone arm ot' the pawl 26 to cause its end 27 to engage the notches in the said plate. At the upper end oi the sleeve .22 a handle 29 is secured, by means oi which it is adapted to be rotated. Saidsleeve is provided with an eccentric cam 30, against the periphery of 'which a roller 31v rides, said roller being ofthe circuit connections.

ln the figures, l and 3fdesignate the upper and lower supporting-plates in which the -operatiiig parts of the mechanism are secured, thc said plates being connected together by means of the rods or posts 4, located near the corners of the plates. They/are further s iis- 1 tained by the insulating-plates 5 and G, cxtending between them, the former being sedrum is quickly rotated to the next mounted upon the end of the pawl 26. When the handle 29 is rotated in either direction, the-cam 30 operates upon the roller 31 and lifts the dog 27. from the notch. A pin 32,

carried by an' extension of the cam 30 or by a flange `formed integrally with the sleeve extends into the drum 1S and its end passes betweenthe ends of a coiled sprin 33, concentrically mounted within the rum, the said ends being also adapted to engage opposite sides of a lug 34, formed upon the inner periphery ot the drum 18.

iiiith the construction so far described it will be understood that 'when the parts are stationary the dog 2i of the pawl 26 engages a notch 25 in the stationary notched plate 22.

The drum and controllersegments b are held in a position corresponding thereto by means of the coiled spring 33 and pin 32. Vhen,

however, the controller-handle 29 is rotated in either direction, the sleeve 22, together With the pin 32 and cam 39, rotates therewith, the

said pin serving to engage the end ofthe coiled spring in the path of its movement and to place said'spring in tension, While the cam 30 acts upon the roller 31 and lifts the dog 27 vfrom en agement with the notch 25, With the result that as soon as said disengagement takes place the coiled spring overcomes the friction of the parts, including that of the con' tactofingers 20 upon the segments 14, and the position. It is stopped by the dog 27 catching ina notch 25, the roller 31 having reached the lower part of the cam 30 to permit such en. elagenpient. rThe drum and segments are 'i'mferore given a quick movement in the def ed direction, which movementis sometimes termed a snap action, and the arching between the contact-.iingers and springs is thus reduced and a good contact is always insured by the stopping of the segments in the proper position.

"The reversing-switch is mounted at the rear upon a shaft 35, which bears at its upper end in the upper plate 2 and extends through lower plate. An insulating-sleeve Sois si yu ifl to the shaft, and upon said sleeve the ments 37 and 38 are 'mounted, g .icing out oi' contact and are led with portion entirelysurrounding the oxinenl's 36 and with au inwardly-extend portion adapted to electrically conmi u'i li the opposite springs. 'llie springs IIA), ui'iicli r-oi'perato with the reversing-segments, :ire mounted also upon the insulatingplatc li, suitable binding-posts Ail) being provided to connect lliicircuit-windings therewith. In oifioi'torotate the reversiiig-switch, u. (frank-:nin l! is provided u )on the lower end thereof and is coiinertcd, liy means oi a rod 'ilili n similar arm-43, carried upon tower cud oin the shaft 44, trough the sleeve il) oi" the controller' and upon the upper end of which it is supported l l in by means of a collar 45. U pdn the upper end of. the shaft 44 a crown 46 is provided, throuffhwhich the reversingvhandle or lever 47is threaded, With its end extending into the shaft 44, whereby when the handle 47 is operated the reversing-switch is correspondingly turned.

In order to prevent operating the reversing-switch except When the controller-l ndle 29 is in normal position, and current is therefore cut off from the motor, a cam 48 is provided and is mounted upon the sleeve 22,. said cam being secured between a pair ci safety-plates 49 by means of the pin 32, above described, and further pins 50. (Shown clearly in Fig. 4.) This cam has two concentric surfaces 5l 52, with which the end 53 of a rocking lever or arm 54 is adapted to engage, the other end 55 of said arm being in the path of a notched plate 56, carried upon the reversing-shaft 35. A spring 57, mountw ed upon the plate 6, ten'ds to force the end 53 of said arm into contactwith the cam 48. When the controller-arm 29 is in normal position, the end 53 in the arm 54 is in engagement with the sleeves 52 of the vcam 48, whereby when the reversing-lever 47 is actuated the end notched plate 56 does not engage with the end 55 of the arm 54 and permits the same to turn,l but at other times when the controller-lever 29 is not in normal position the raised portion 51 of the cam 48 engages the arm 54 and places its end 55 in the path ofthe notched disk 56, whereby it is impossible to reverse the switch while current is passing. through the motor.

While the safety-plates 49 serve to guide and support the end 53 of the arm 54, they have the additional function of' positively moving the drum incase the coiled spring should fail to act. For this purpose the said plates are notched, as shown at 57a in Figs. 4 and 5, said notched or shouldered portions being adapted to engage the bearing 58 of the lever 25 and to thereby positively push the drum, and with it the controller-segments, around to the desired position.' Under ordinary circumstances these shoulders do not come into action before the coiled spring actuates and quickly moves the drum and segments to the next position; but in case of failure of the spring to act these plates positively move the saine.

A suita le covering 59 is secured to the sleeve of the eontroller-lever 29 and serves to inelose the lioint or bearing in the contactplate. 'l`lie lever 54 is iulcruined upon a pin (il), secured to tlio top plate 2. A stop-pin 6i for tlio rcvorsinir-switch is also secured to l :s

the top plate, as shown in lfig. l.

'llie circuit connectiiins are shown in Fig. 7, the segments l'and contact-lingers 14 heextcniling ing shown developed and the contact-lingers 29 being placed side by side. These parts,

however are located in their ro er relative a IOO y` y is vthe normal position, r

f the contact-ingers b i i 'z 'of the'contact-fingers 20a f se i the 'speed of the motor 1s 'ffAt the next step .ofthe segments posititms, and the operation can be seen by *consideringthe segments as reciprocating up and "down past the ingers 20.V The reversing-'segments are. indicated .at 37 and 38, while vthe motor-armature is designated by v the numeral 70, the upper field-coil by 71,

and the lower field-coil by72, a resistance 73 being included in the circuit of the latter coil. Batteries74 and 75, referably of the storage type, are adapte to be connected with the motor land tobe charged from the mains 76 and 77a fuse 78 being included in the lat- 'ter conductor. In the' position shown, which the batteries 74 and are in charging position, currentfrom the mains being adapt'ed to. flowin series through l thebatteries, their-positive and negative poles being connected by the conductor 79 and S0, and 2Oc resting upon thel segment 14a. In' the next position of the contact-segments, which is the starting osij-tion for themotor, the opposite poles o the batterywill be connected together by means and 20", which rest vupon*contact-finger 14". 'From these poles throughthe reversing-segments 38, conductor V 82,* armature 70 of the motor, ,f-lreversing-segment 37,-conductor 84, through rfield-coil 71,overcontacts20e and 20, which are now.` resting up oniinger 14, through fieldcoil l72, resistance 73 to the negative poles ,i 'ofthe battery, which are connected together "'by fingers 20, 20", and 14d. The current be- Aing of low intensity and encountering the resistance of both field-coils, as well as that of the resistance 73, vis comparatively small, and therefore small, so same. At' the next 'movement of the segments the batteries remain'in parallel, butthe coils of the motor are thrown into parallel relation.- The circuit rnay be traced, as before, from the opposite'poles of the batteries 74 and 75 through "as .not to endanger the 9,5 the reversing-switch and motor-armature to the conductor 84. From the point itnow has two paths, one through the conductor 86, ycontacts 20g 14e 20f, conductor 87 through the field-'coil 72, and resistance 73 to the opfposite pole ofthe batteries, while the other path is directly through fingers 20e, 20", and 14f tothe corresponding ole of the battery. Under these conditions, t e resistance of the circuitbeing` lowered, the field-coils are energized to a greater extent, as Well as the armature, and the speed of the motor is there- Vfore increased. The resistance 73 in series with the winding 72 has the effect of crowding a larger portion-of the current through theffield-coil 71, which exerts a greater pull uponthe armature, and therefore counteracts the effects of gravity and friction uppn the bearings ofthe latter, whereby a' greater Increase of'speed isohtained. the ballithe'circuit will lead over the`conductor 81 conductor 83,'

teries are connected in series with each other by the contact-segments and fingers, motor-coils are placed in series. Owing to the greater intensity of the current now flow- .ing,the speed of the motor is increased, even though the resistance of the path of the current is increased by placing the several coils `in series. At the next step, which correspends to the greatest speed of the motor, t e field-coils are again thrown into parallel, with the result before explained that the rnctor again increases its speed.

While I have described the various features of the invention with reference to the details of construction, .it is obvious that the same may be embodied in manyy forms, and I do not, therefore, exact construction shown and described.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The combination with contact-segments,

lof a drum connected to rotate therewith, a

coiled spring mounted in the drum and having its opposite opposite sides of a lug on said drum, a segment-rotating device mounted opposite 'the end of the drum and having a pinprojecting thereinto and located between the ends of the coiled spring whereby when said part is rotated in either direction, the spring is placed in tension in the corresponding direction and tends to rotate the drum therewith and means to held the drum in contact position during a portion of the travel of said part` in either direction and to then release the. drum whereby the segments snap from one contact position to another, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an electric motor, of a controller therefor having contactsegments, a suitable support in which the segments are mounted to rotate, a single paw] to stop the segments in the several contact positions and operative when the segments are rotated in either direction, and a single cam to release said pawl when it is desired to rotate the segments, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an electric motor, of a controller therefor having contactand the wish to be limited to the los segments, a suitable support in which the segments are. mounted to rotate, a single pawl to stop and hold the segments in the several Contact positions and o erative when the segments are rotated in either direction, and a single cam to release said pawl when it is desired to rotate the segments, substantially as described.

4, The combination .with an electric motor, of a controller therefor having contact-segments, a suitable support in .which the seg-l ments are mounted to rotate, a single pawl to stop.` the segments in the several'contactposi- .tions andoperative when the segments are rotated in either direction, and -asingle cam.

operated by the controller-lever for releasing said pawl to permit the segments to snap from one contact position to another, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an electric motor, of a controller. therefor having Ycontact-segments, a suitable support in which the sega roller carried by the pawl, a segment-operating handle, a single eccentric cam connected With said handle and adapted to engage said roller to release the paWl when the lever is operated in either direction, substantially as described.

7. The combination with contactsegments, of a shaft u on Which said segments are mounted, Aa pawlJ said segments, a stationary-notched plate with which said pawl engages to hold the segments in contact position, a segment-operating handle 'supported upon the shaft of the contact-segments, and a cam connected ndth said handle to engage and release said paivl from thc'notched plate to permit the contactsegment to rotate, substantially ,as described.

8. The combination With segments arranged to rotate, of a drum connected therewith, a pawl carried by the drum, a stationary notched plate with which the pawl engages to hold the segmentsvin contact. position, a cam concentrically mounted .With reference to the segments and adapted to re'- lease said pawl from the notched plate, a coiled spring connected'with the drum and placedin tension in the operation of said cani, whereby When the paWl is released, the drum is rotated with a quick movement from one contact position to thesucceeding position, substantially as described.

9. The combination with contact segments, of a suitablesupport in whieh the segments are mounted to rotate, a pawl traveling with the segments, suitable stop devices engaged by said paivl in its travel to stop the segments in the several contact positions, and means to ielease said pa irl when it isidesired to rotate the segii'ients, substantially as di'seribed.

lt). The combination with contact segments, ol' :i suitable support in which the ments are mounted to rotate, a movable pawl arranged to travel with said segments,

stationary stops engaged bysaid paii'l to slop i and hold llie segiiients in the several contact positions, and means to automatically repawl, substiintiallyV connected rto rotate with ments to rotate therewith,

failure of the yielding connection, lsubstanlease the' pawl when it is desired to rotate the 6 segments, substantially as described.

11. The combinationwith contact segments, ot a suitable support in which the segments are mounted to rotate, a single pawl associated with the segments and adapted to travel therewith, stationary stops with which said pawlengages to stop and hold the'segments' in the severalr contact positions, and a cam operated by the controller-operating` means for releasink said pawl to-perinit the 7 segments tol snap om one contact position -to another, substantially as described.

12. The combination with contact -segments, of a pawl connected (Vith said sega stationary notched plate with which said pawl engages to hold the segments in the several contact positions, a segment operating handle or means, and a cani connected Wi th said handle or means to release said pawl from the notched plate to permitthe'contact-segments to rotate, `substantially as described. 13. The combination with contact-segments, a drum carried thereby, a projection upon the drum, a concentrically-mounted segment-operating handle, and sleeve, anda pair of safety-plates mounted upon the lastnamed part, anda yielding connection between said segments and said handle to permit the segments to snap from one position to the next in the operation oi the handle, said plate being adapted to engage said projection in the drum and positively move the segments to the contact position in case of' tially as described.

.14. The combination With contact-segments adapted to be rotated, of an operating means therefor, a cam mounted Vupon said means, a plate mounted on each side of said cain, reversing-segniei'its'to change the direction of the current through the motor, and an intermediate rocker-arinbetween said reversing-segments and the cani to prevent the operation of the reversing-segments except in the normal position of said operating means, said arm being received and guided at one end by said plates, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a contact-segment-operating' handle, a cain connected therewith, safety-plates mounted upon each side of the cam, reversing-segments mounted at one side of said handle, a rocker-arm extending between the said cam and reversingsegments and supported at one end by said safety-plates, said cam being adapted to cause said rocker-arm to lock the reversing-segments l'roin movement iii all except the normalpositioii ol the said handle. substaiitiallj.' i

:is deseiibt-dz l lo. 'lhe combination with a motor hai-ing two field-coils, ol a generator, means lor eoii- IOO - ments'mounted for rotation upon a sleeve, of 4 means to rotate the same, reversmg-segments .necting `slaves said coils in series or in parallel relation, and a resistance in circuit with one winding 'of the said motor, substantially as described. v

1,7'. The combination With a motor having two field-coils, of a generator divided into two parts, contactsegments'adapted to con-A neet the generators with the' motor in parallel ,said sleeve, l'a shaft passing with the ield-co'ils 'first in series and next in arallel, and to also connect said generators 1n series with the motor, also with itsA coils in series and in parallel and a; resistance connected in seriesat all times with one of the coils ofthe motor, substantially as described.

18. The combination lwith contact segsleeve, an insulated core surrounding said .i sleeve, a plurality of contact-segments mountmounted .in said sleeve,'1neans p independent of-'said shaft for rotating. saidv ed upon said core and insulating-,disks between said segments and outside of the'..oute'vrf segments, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a motor', of a controller therefor having cntact-segments, a suitable` support upon whichfsaiid segments are mounted to rotate, 'a spring, means-'movable continuously in'one direction.- for winding said spring to cause the latterto rotate said 'contact-segments, meansto stop -sa 1d segments inthe severalA contact positions,

and meansoperat'ed by-said' spring-winding means for releasing said stopping meanswhen it is desired to rotate the segments.

`21,. The combination with a motor having two field-coils, of a generator, means'for connecting said coils in series or in parallel relation, and means for reducing the strength of one .of said field-coils, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof vI .havehereunto -subscribed my name in thepi'esence 'of two WitleSSeS- Witnesses: I

E. L. Moons,` W CLYDE JONES. 

